Our History
It all began when a man searching for the truth, found it in Christ and stopped being a Roman Catholic priest. He was Dr. Alejandro Marchand of French origin. With the Savior Christ now in his life, he began a Methodist mission among Hispanics in our city of El Paso, Texas. As a student of the Bible, the Word of God, he later decided to fully accept Baptist doctrines.
Perhaps we wonder, How was it that, being Methodist in origin, this group entered a Baptist congregation? The answer is simple: By the only way that according to Scripture a new believer has to enter a Baptist church, by biblical immersion baptism!
It was a Saturday, July 9, 1892 when 28 Mexican believers were immersed in the waters of the Rio Grande. The next day, Sunday, July 10, 1892, with the 28 baptized, the First Mexican Baptist Church of El Paso Texas was organized. Dr. Marchand was ordained to the ministry as pastor on July 18, 1892. Thus, the first pastor of this Baptist church, the First of El Paso and pioneer of Hispanic Baptist work, was a former Roman Catholic priest, who found the truth by seeking it in the Word of God and who decided to serve Him by dedicating his life eternally to Him. This was truly the glorious beginning of the Hispanic Baptist work in this city, and the fourth in the state of Texas.
Originally, the temple in which they congregated to celebrate their services was located on the corner of Fifth and Stanton streets, which was built in 1907; The building was used for more than 60 years.
The first service held at the new address of Hueco and Stevens was on Sunday, January 5, 1969. This church is one of the oldest Mexican Baptist churches in the state of Texas, and its influence and services in the work have been big. From this church several churches and missions have come forth that carry forward the work of the gospel in El Paso, Ciudad Juárez and neighboring places.
We have been blessed to organize over 11 Baptist churches in our history. There have been more than 24 pastors and countless servants of God who have faithfully served the Lord Jesus Christ and his church. Today our church looks to the present and the future with vision, seeking to move forward in evangelization, education, worship, service and fellowship. There is a glorious future for this church, because the Lord's promises do not fail, always looking forward “….fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
Jehovah Ebenezer helped us up to this point!